Adaptations of riparian plants to streamflow variability

Riparian plant species vary in their adaptations to inundation, drought, and the temporal variability in these factors. River regulation via dams for hydroelectric power and other natural resource goals can modify these conditions, ranging from daily, to seasonal to inter-annual time scales. We conduct experiments that simulate these conditions to better understand how river management impacts riparian plant community composition, and to identify management strategies that can result in beneficial outcomes along the Colorado River and other river systems within the region.

Funding: BoR Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program

Participants:
Brad Butterfield, Associate Research Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, NAU
Emily Palmquist, Ecologist, USGS Southwest Biological Science Center